Austria may be an
unlikely place for a Beach Party, but in
Klagenfurt, the country’s southernmost
city, that’s exactly what happens when the
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour hits the
town.

The Tour first stopped
here in 1996, the year of the successful
launch of Beach Volleyball as an Olympic
sport. After the event gathered in
popularity each year, the FIVB then
entrusted the 2001 Beach Volleyball World
Championships to Klagenfurt. The rest is
sporting and entertainment history.

Set on the edge of the
fabulous Lake Worther a traditional holiday
resort near the Italian border, the venue
last year attracted 101,000 spectators over
the six days of competition. FIVB President
Dr. Rubén Acosta praised the event as one
of the best ever in the history of
“Beach”, and players also claimed it as
one of their favorite events.

This year the Austrian
event will be one of two Grand Slams, where
women and men battle it out for the
season’s top ranked competition, and one
that attracts more points and bigger prize
money.

That Klagenfurt was
last year voted “Best Event” of the year
by a popular Austrian magazine – ahead of
the classic Kitzbuehel Downhill and the
Austrian Formula One Grand Prix - was a
tribute to its organizers.

Klagenfurt is unique.
The players deliver a fantastic competition
and the crowd gets into party mode by
singing, chanting, dancing and even
performing the trademark “slow wave” to
the tune of the Blue Danube Waltz. The
side events offer a non-stop party
atmosphere, which will include this year the
"After Beach Parties" beginning at
the end of the daily matches on the event
site itself.

Last year
Argentina’s Mariano Baracetti and Martin
Conde stole the crown from Brazilians
Ricardo and Loiola, while Adriana and Shelda
took the women’s title for Brazil.But even though he only came away
with the silver medal, Loiola still praised
the event. "It's amazing! It's not like
this anywhere else in the world," the
Brazilian said, looking around at the
animated crowd. "Here in Austria they
really know how to cheer."